GROUNDS FOR CELEBRATION

TJ and Julie Fairchild have a lot to celebrate as they approach the 10-year anniversary of Commonplace Coffee Co.

But mostly, they’re celebrating their customers.

“I’m still kind of baffled that it has worked,” TJ Fairchild said.

“I think the biggest thing that we’re still celebrating is that people like being involved with the Commonplace.”

The Fairchilds opened the store on March 11, 2003. At the time, they wondered whether the community would support them. The answer was yes.

As they prepare to celebrate, he said customers have told him they’ve been coming since the store first opened.

“It’s just been really fun to have (those stories) come out again. These people have been part of our lives,” he said.

Commonplace started roasting their coffee later, then expanded to a separate roasting facility and took the name Commonplace Coffee Co.

Now they have coffee shops at Indiana Regional Medical Center, in Squirrel Hill and Garfield, and roasting locations in the Robertshaw building in Indiana and in Larimer.

“It was definitely not our vision originally to be this widespread,” Fairchild said. “It’s all been based on meeting people who have a passion for coffee.”

Their recent expansion to Larimer came through a relationship with East End Brewing Co., with whom they created a coffee porter that will be featured with a tasting at a celebration at 7 p.m. today at the coffeehouse on Grant Street.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Maggie Lucas waved her fist and let out a howl as she peeled herself up from the floor after getting knocked down while hitting a second straight 3-pointer. Penn State had Ohio State staggering, and the Lady Lions were left standing in the end.

Lucas hit those big 3s during the go-ahead run while scoring 18 in the game, Alex Bentley led with 20 points and No. 8 Penn